Virtual Teams: How To Build Trust
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When technology and distance comprise our team environment, chances are we are only meeting virtually. Team experience in a virtual environment makes it difficult to create something that can also be easily lost.
Trust. Although trust is a foundation for any relationship, it plays a particularly important role in virtual team dynamics. Effective virtual teams establish swift trust.
Communication that is clear and team members who know their role can set the wheels of swift trust in motion. Yet there is more to consider.
What cultural groups are represented on your team? What are the values of each? Where do the team members line up as to communication style, orientation to task, view of power, individualism or group perspective, and time orientation? Knowing the cultural variances will help you set inclusive guidelines.
Terence Brake, author of Where in the World Is My Team?, identified nine personal qualities that prepare the soil for trust among team members in a virtual environment.
1. Respect
2. Openness
3. Transparency
4. Integrity
5. Empathy
6. Caring
7. Confidence
8. Congeniality
9. Reciprocity
Unfortunately, these words mean different things to those with cultural differences. Find out by asking the simple question “What do these mean to you?” before assuming that the same definition and expectation will streamline potential pitfalls.
Virtual teams require more trust than face-to-face teams, as the ability to misunderstand others is greater when remote. If problems crop up, you can always circle back to discussions around how best to communicate in order to give and get trust.
Deborah Rinner, VP, Chief Learning Officer of Tero International facilitates this Tero Tips video.
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